NORTHWOOD — Forging your own path, creating motivational magic and fresh starts were all themes presented at Coe-Brown Northwood Academy's graduation ceremony on Friday night as members of the senior Class of 2012 proudly accepted their diplomas.

Class of 2012 Student Body President Amanda Perron reflected on her classes at Coe-Brown, including the numerous friendships she and others made in their four years at school.

Perron said she was lucky enough to have met every single person in the Class of 2012 and for that she was "truly blessed."

Perron wished all of her classmates, whatever their future plans may be, good luck in their endeavors.

"Be confident in who you are and what you have to offer; this is your time to shine," said Perron in her welcoming speech.

Both Salutatorian Meredith Grady and Valedictorian Megan Curtin both used literary references in their speeches at the ceremony.

Grady encouraged her classmates to forge their own paths and find the careers and hobbies that inspire them. In quoting Dr. Seuss' "The Places You'll Go" Grady asked the crowd and her class to find their inspiration in life and apply that inspiration to all their endeavors.

"Do what inspires you," she Grady. "We all have the raw ingredients, what you choose to do with those materials will determine your future happiness."

Curtin, in using her love for the literary character Harry Potter, described the magic that happens when an individual finds what they're passionate about and how soon, that passion, once only secured in that one activity, spreads to all areas of your life.

Curtin said this "magic" is what happened in her life sophomore year when she discovered running. Curtin wished this fortune onto her class.

"Everyone's passion is unique," said Curtin. "My hope is that everyone finds some sort of motivating force that would influence our lives. Now that would be magical."

Along with a number of speakers, close to 50 scholarships were given throughout the ceremony.